For many of our friends, serving children in need is not just a calling—it’s a vocation.

Such is the case for 92-year old Louise Batrich who, along with her son David Batrich, came by Mercy Home to deliver hand-made winter scarves and hats to our boys and girls.

A teacher before her retirement, Batrich has supported our Home for over 20 years and is a dedicated viewer of our Sunday Mass at Mercy Home program. And for the past three winters, she has knit colorful scarves and hats for our children.

“I had all this yarn, and I thought, ‘what am I gonna do with all this yarn?’” said Batrich. “Then I decided I’d make scarves for all the little children here.”

A lifelong Cubs fan, Batrich even knit some of her gifts in the north-side team’s colors to celebrate their historic run for a World Series title.

Father Scott and several coworkers welcomed Batrich and gratefully accepted her gifts on behalf of our kids. Father Scott thanked her for her generosity, and then, to celebrate her birthday next month, everyone sang Batrich “Happy Birthday”!

Thank you, Louise, for keeping our children warm during winter.